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To 25th June. 2011
1.Her excellency the Honourable President
Sovereign Republic of India,
Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi-01.
2.Honourable Prime Minister,
Sovereign Republic of India,
South Block, New Delhi-01
3.Honourable Minister of Home Affairs,
Union Government of India,
North Block, New Delhi-01.
4.Honourable Minister of Law and Justice,
Union Government of India,
Parliament house complex, New delhi-01.
5.Honourable Speaker, 15th Lok sabha,
Sovereign Republic of India,
Parliament House, New Delhi-01.
6.Honourable Chairman, Rajya Sabha,
Sovereign Republic of India.
Parliament House, New Delhi-01.
7.His excellency the Honourable Governor of Karnataka,
Raj Bhavan, Bangalore-01.
8.Honourable Secretary General of Lok Sabha,
Sovereign Republic of India,
Parliament House, New Delhi-01.
9.Honourable Secretary General of Rajya Sabha,
Sovereign Republic of India,
Parliament House, New Delhi-01.
10. Honourable Leader of Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha,
Sovereign Republic of India,
Parliament House, New Delhi-01
11. Honourable Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha,
Sovereign Republic of India,
Parliament House, New Delhi-01
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12. Honourable Chairperson,
National Advisory Council,
Union Government of India,
Parliament House, New Delhi-01
13 Union Minister of Environment,
Union Government of India,
Parliament house complex, New delhi-01.
14. Director and UNESCO Representative to India
UNESCO House
B-5/29, Safdarjung Enclave
New Delhi - 110 029
E-mail: newdelhi@unesco.org
Through: The Honourable Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu district, Madikeri, Karnataka.
Respected Madam/Sirs,
Subject: Opposition to declaring the lands in Kodagu to be World Heritage site by UNESCO under any excuse- but instead declare Kodagu as World cultural site and Constitutional Guarantee under Articles 370,371, 340, 342 and 6th Schedule could be the only Panacea -better banish the anti Codava Environmentalist Mafia.
This has direct reference to the proposal the government of India, has made recommending the inclusion of Western Ghats in the list of World heritage sites tag as suggested by UNESCO. If such a thing comes true, it necessarily will be a death blow to the entire region of Kodagu in general and Kodava race in particular because as many as 16 hoblis, namely Virajpet, Ammathi, Ballele, Hudikeri, Ponnampet, Shrimangala, Madikeri, Bhagamandala, Sampaje, Napok, Somwarpet, Shantalli, Suntikoppa, Kodlipet, Shanivarsanthe and Kushalnagar in Kodagu covers the region so designated. It will do more harm than any good. The idea behind classifying the entire western Ghats region to be world heritage site admittedly is being done at the behest of UNESCO; albeit USA. Inorder to safeguard the ecological balance of the entire USA and European countries to re-coup already dwindled oxygen and carbondioxide by sacrificing the entire generality in India. It is understood that, the environmentalist mafia in India, Kodagu(Coorg) particularly sumptuously has been bribed; needless to add that Cable mafia, realestate mafia, deal makers, fixers, negotiators and professional blackmailers have taken the undue advantage of the situation and call themselves to be pucca environmentalists. Each and every segments of this 'parisara mafia' are exuberant to watch kodagu ruined, Codavas exterminated
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and rule the district as they feel. The relentless backstabbing by these elements has succeeded in influencing the UNESCO to include Western Ghats region ,especially within Kodagu district to be classified as heritage sites. Unless the move is nipped in the bud, such a day is not that far when kodagu will become another colony of UNESCO and Imperialistic powers.
One must remember that Kodagu virtually is an agrarian area and the proposed heritage tag becomes a fact that each and every traditional agriculturist will have to think of parting with their dear soil to these pseudo environmentalists who in other words are the agents of money bags and tycoons and how the entire atmosphere would be spoiled is anybody's guess. This fake environmentalists already poked their nose in the development of the entire Codava hereditary jamma malai lands in Paadi Nalnad areas, no roads are allowed to be laid properly. If such a thing continues, each and every agricultural operation will be dependant on the mercy of these false environmentalists and of course the UNESCO. If a planter wants to lobe one single branch of a tree planted by him, in his own plantation for removal of shades, he would be forced to seek permission from the UNESCO which understandably is an impossible task. Naturally the agricultural operations, especially coffee cultivation will become a thing of the past. The other immediate curtailment there after is no Codava would be allowed to enjoy his right to hold fire arms and the like.
The government must know that the regions like Nilgiri hills, Kodaikanal hills, in Tamilnadu and Munnar hills in Kerala, Mulainagiri, Kemmanagundi and Bababudan hills of Sahyadri range in Karnataka all comes under Western ghats range have become trade centres and rich coffee and tea plantations on account of the fact that the proper approach roads have been laid some 300 years ago. And all help have been given to all the land owners there to develop their respective plantations. All the said regions are highly placed peak areas. But ones who are indulged in governance have deliberately failed to do the things in relation to Kodagu and Codavas. What they did in respect of the said regions even though large extends of land in Kodagu especially in the region of Paadi Nalnad, in Thadiyandamol hill tracts, is low level when compared with the above regions. It is not justifiable of assigning heritage tag as contemplated by UNESCO to Kodagu. It is not objectionable that the above mentioned coffee and tea belt areas in Chikmagalore, Ooty, Kodaikanal and Munnar are included in the World heritage sites list but not kodagu.
We would have accepted if the historic exclusive heritage sites of Codava traditional habitation and their heritage markers like Mandh, Maani,Kaimada, Ainmane, Codava cultural heritage and Codava racial identity as a whole etc are classified as World heritage sites under Cultural sites category, and due action is taken, to protect and promote the same for the future generation instead of assigning wild animals, flora and fauna of the region to be classified as UNESCO world heritage sites. (In reality, Codava racial identity and cultural heritage is akin to flora and fauna, it should have been given prime
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importance to be protected by the UNESCO under Cultural sites category) The entire world especially the ones in UNESCO and their agents must know that every Codava will rise up in Opposition should the government thinks of converting one single inch of land in Kodagu as heritage site.
The better course left open to the government is to promulgate an ordinance under Article 370/371, 340/342, extending Constitutional guarantee, to Codavas by race, Codava cultural heritage, the entire extend of land within the compass of Western Ghats which in other words house the heart throbe of Codava existence and uninterrupted habitation, and establish Codavaland Autonomous Region under the 6th Schedule of our Constitution. By extending the provisions of the article 370 and 371 of the Constitution, the exuberance of big brother countries through UNESCO to spoil and obliterate the very notion of acceptadly the most ancient and self respected numerically most insignificant Codava tribal civilisation can be stopped. To quote an example whatever has happened to the overbearing attitude of big powers to meddle with the Jammu and Kashmir? and they have failed on account of the applicability of Article 370 of Our Constitution. It is only that which has saved J & K as it used to be formerly to the succeeding generations. The UNESCO; or our own Union Government wantonly has failed to get free prior informed consent of the Codava indigenous people in this regard despite our request should the government proceed to declare the region within the Codavaland to be World Heritage Site for reasons best may be understood. It certainly amounts to a diabolic violation of human rights besides a dastardly act to eliminate an ancient culture.
Thanking You,
Yours faithfully,
N U Nachappa Codava,
President,
Codava National Council
P B # 12, Madikeri, 571201,
Codava land,
Karnataka, India, South Asia.
Mobile number 09448721200.
Members Codava National Council
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